Driving and governing mechanism for organs



(No Model.) v2 Sheets-Shee1; 1

E s. VOTEY. DRIVING AND GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ORGANS.

No. 407,802. Patented July 30, 1889.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

a E S. VOTEY. DRIVING AND GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ORGANS. I

No. 407,802. Patented July 30, 1889.

WITNESSES INVEJVTUR WZZW - UNITED STATES ATENT FFrcE.

EDIVIN S. VOTEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DRlViNG AND GOVERNING MECHANISM FOR ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,802, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed August 10, 1888. Serial No. 282,451. (No model.)

To (0Z6 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. VoTEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Driving and Governing Mechanism for Organs; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in longitudinal vertical section, an organ embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation with parts broken away to expose the feeders. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate in front and side elevation how the motion may be communicated from the motor to the feeders. Fig. 5 illustrates how the same mechanism is adapted to be operated by a foot-treadle when for any reason the motor is not in service. a detail View of the friction-clutch mechanism connected with the foot-treadle mechanism.

To this end A represents any organ, B its exh aust-b ello ws.

0 is an electric motor, which maybe located at any convenient point. It is geared in any convenient manner, as by band-wheels D D or worm-gear, with the exhaust-bellows, so to operate the same.

E is a rheostat, whereby the current of electricity delivered to the motor is governed in amount, thereby permitting it to run with greater or less speed.

F is a treadle connected with the lever of the rheostat, whereby the operator may govern the said current by the pressure of his foot.

Heretofore where motors of any character have been employed with organs the speed of the same has been governed by the back pressure or resistance of the bellows, and the volume of sound has been modulated by the knee or treadle swells. IVhen little air has been required, by reason of but few keys being manipulated, the resistance from the bellows may have served to reduce the speed of the motor, and where much air has been re- Fig. 6 is quired, by reason of more rapid or extended manipulation of the keys, the reduction in the resistance afforded by the bellows may have permitted the motor to speed up in a corresponding degree; but I am not aware that an organ has been provided with means for controlling the speed of the motor at the will of the performer. By my invention,however, the operator may by the pressure of his foot upon the treadle F regulate at his own will the speed of the motor by governing the amount of the current passing through it. He is therefore by this means enabled to modulate the volume of sound from his organ to any desired degree. machine greater current speed up the instrument so as to operate with a full volume of air from his bellows, or he may by raising his foot greatly decrease the speed, so as to operate with his bellows almost at the point of total collapse and again graduate these modulations so as to conform to the requirements of the music he is playing, and this he can accomplish without any change in the melody of the notes, such as usually accompanies the use of the swells, especially in a reed-organ. Again, in that class of reed-organs known as practice organs, where there is provided a series of pedals or foot-keys, and for this reason the organ cannot be pumped by the feet, this device is especially applicable, since it gives to the musician a full and complete control of the instrument far beyond that heretofore attained, where the pumping is done by another person or by a motor the speed of which is not under the direct control of the player at every moment.

I do not limit myself to any particular source of supply for the electric motor. It may be either produced by a generator, or it may be taken from a storage or other battery. I deem an electric motor with a rheostat of special value for this purpose,becausc -by the combination the player can govern the speed without any regard to the resistance afforded by the bellows. At the same time I am not aware that a motor of any kind for playing an organ has heretofore been provided with means entirely under the control of the player, whereby its speed may be at any time moderated or accelerated to con- He may by giving the form to the peculiar modulation of the volume of sound which he may desire to graduate.

Of course, instead of a foot-treadle to control the rheostat or governor, it mightbe controlled by a lever brought within reach of the knee of the player.

This invention is of course applicable to all organs; but the beneficial effects are very marked in an organ which is provided with a series of exhaust bellows or feeders which take and exhaust their airin successive order at regular intervals but at different times with respect to each other. I do notlay claim in this application to an organ of that character, since it forms the subject-matter of a separate application for patent; but an organ of that character is adapted to deliver its tones, either of great or light volume, without the usual disagreeable and involuntary pulsations or waves which are present with organs which are not thus provided with a series of exhaust-bellows or feeders.

When an organ of the character described is provided with an electric motor and rheostat, the playeris, through the medium of the rheostat, enabled to produce modulations of sound and to increase or decrease the volume without the production of the said pulsations and without in any way destroying the richness and quality of; the tones that emanate from the instrument, and so obviate a defect which is quite apparent where the volume of sound modulated by the usual appliances ot' swells and the like.

In Fig. 1. the motor is represented as geared with the feeders or exhaust-bellows by band wheels and belts. This is a convenient means where provision not made at the outset for any particular location of the motor; but I prefer, where the same canbe conveniently accomplished, to gear the motor with the shaft which operates the exhaust-bellows or feeders by worm-gear. Such a gear is shown in Figs. 3 and at, in which C is the shaft of the motor, provided with a worm G meshing directly with corresponding worm-gear on the wheel 13, which is in turn engaged with the shaft I3 which operates the exhaust-bellows or feeders. This greatly simplifies the construction and reduces the friction which would accompany a belt-gearing and overcomes the liability of derangement by the stretchin and slipping of belts.

I usually provide an independent treadle or set of treadles G for blowing the bellows in addition to the motor, so that should the motor be out of order the bellows might be operated by the feet in the usual manner.

In order that the foot-treadle mechanism and the motor mechanism may not interfere with each other, I prefer to engage the foot mechanism with the shaft I by a frictionelutch gearsuch as is shown in Figs. 5 and G-in which B is a :t'riction-clutch engaged with the shaft B. Its free 'end bears very slightly against the periphery of the loose treadle-wheel G by virtue of a spring I). A band g on the treadlerwheel connects the lat ter with the treadle G, and a spring g serves to retract the treat'lle-wheel when the foot is raised from the treadle. Now, while the motor ll in use the shaft B and clutch 15 will move freely in the direction of the arrow. If, however, the motor is not in use, the clutch B will rest lightly against the periphery of the wheel G. Pressure upon the foot-treat'llc will rotate the treadle wheel G, and in so doing :it will firmly engage the clutch B, thus revolvingthe shaft Wot the feeders. Bylit't-ing the foot the wheel will release its hold of the clutch and rotate backward and take a new hold upon the clutch. Of course any other clutch mechanism of a like nature may be employed.

I am aware that motors of various kinds other than electric have been used in organs for operating the bellows; also, that it is not broadly new to use shunt devices with electric motors, whereby portions of the coils of the field-magnet are cut out and a cm-respomling resistance simultaneously inserted in the circuit. I make no claim, therefore, to such devices, nor do I claim the combination of an electric motor, a rheostat, and a musicl'ecding device, as this forms the subjeet-mattmof an application filed by me of the same date herewith, Serial No. 282,450.

I am aware that in electrical piano-actions the intensity of the current for determining the intensity of tone has been control led at the will of the performer by means of a pedal; but this I do not claim.

IV hat I claim is 1. In an organ, the combination, with the bellows, of an electric motor operating the same, a rheostat by which the speed of the motor may be increased or diminished, and a treadle for controlling said rhcostat without requiring the use of the handset the player, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the feeders of an organ, of an electric motor, and a worm-gear eonn eetion C Bavhereb y the motor is engaged with and adapted to operate the feeders, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I sign this spccification in the presence of two witnesses.

EDW IN S. VO'IEY.

Witnesses:

M. 1;. ODocnsntr'r, SAMUEL E. THOMAS. 

